Faculty Guidelines for Implementing Academic Accommodations

Test-Taking Accommodations

EXTENDED TIME

A student with an extended time (time-and-a-half or double time) test-taking accommodation is to be afforded 1.5x or 2x the amount of time that all other students are provided to take an exam. If a student wishes to take a test in the classroom with you (even if he or she has the accommodation of testing in a distraction-reduced environment), and you and the student have no logistical conflicts with either starting early or staying late, then you should accommodate that student in the classroom and note “department will accommodate” on the Accommodations Implementation Plan (aka "the Blue Form").

If, however, you or the student has a schedule conflict, or the student is eligible for testing in a distraction reduced environment and prefers to take his or her test in the Proctoring Center, then be sure that the student completes all information about test times on the Blue Form, and indicates “test proctoring needed.”

Planned Quizzes

During your accommodations conversation with the student, let the student know that there will be quizzes in the class, how long you will allow for each quiz, and determine whether accommodations will be needed for quizzes.

If the student concludes that extended time and/or a distraction-reduced environment will not be necessary for quizzes, document this on the Blue Form, indicating the length of time you will be allowing for quizzes and noting in the Comments section that accommodations will not be necessary.

If the student does express a need extended time for quizzes and/or testing in a distraction-reduced environment, consider and discuss the following options:

The student arrives early to start the quiz

You will collect the quiz (after, say, 10 or 15 minutes), but the student will use the additional time at the end of class

The student takes the quiz in the Proctoring Center and then reports to class

You give all students course material to read after they've completed their quizzes. When you see that all students have finished the quiz and moved onto the reading, collect the quizzes.

In order to ensure compliance, you would need to note at what time the last student without accommodations completed the quiz, and then provide the student(s) with extended test time accommodations the proportionally appropriate extended time before collecting the quizzes.

Pop Quizzes

See the guidance above and start by asking the student whether accommodations will be needed for quizzes. If s/he informs you that accommodations won't be necessary for quizzes, make the student aware that you will also be giving unannounced pop quizzes to ensure that students are keeping up with assigned readings. Then confirm any declination to use accommodations for quizzes in writing or via email.

If the student does express a need for extended time for quizzes, I recommend using option 4 above.

Knowing how best to implement accommodations can be tricky! If you have any uncertainties, please call Marni Jones at (717) 245-1734. She'll be happy to advise.

COMPUTER USE FOR ESSAY EXAMS

If the student has the accommodation of a computer for essay exams, please let him or her know whether you will have any essay-based tests, and whether or not you’re comfortable with a student using a laptop (not his or her personal laptop) in your class for an exam. If the student will be taking the exam with a laptop in your classroom, please remind the student that s/he will need to email Susan Frommer at proctoring@dickinson.edu to request to pick up a laptop for that exam.

ADVANCED NOTICE

It is essential that ODS (Office of Disability Services) has sufficient time to plan for all exam proctoring, which is why students are informed that they must make any requests for proctoring at least one week in advance. Your assistance with these preparations will save us all a good deal of effort and scrambling down the road.

As soon as we receive Blue Forms that indicate the need for a test proctor (even if that need may be tentative), Susan Frommer, Proctoring Coordinator, will place that exam on the Proctoring calendar. If you do not receive a confirmation of our intention to proctor by three days prior to your exam, please contact Susan Frommer at proctoring@dickinson.edu.

Likewise, if a test date changes, or if a student indicates to you that s/he will no longer be in need of a proctor that was previously requested please notify Susan as soon as possible.